European Parliament elections

EU citizens can vote and stand for election to the European Parliament immediately after arriving in Portugal, as there is no mandatory minimum period of residence.

To be able to vote, they must

be over the age of 18

be on the electoral register

be legally resident in Portugal

not have been debarred from the right to vote in their country of origin.

EU citizens can register with the registry commissions (comissões recenseadoras) or the Aliens and Borders Department (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, SEF). They are then registered in the constituency corresponding to their place of residence as stated in their valid residence document (título de residência).

For this purpose they must

submit a valid identity document

provide proof of legal residence in Portugal, in the form of an EU citizen's registration certificate (Certificado de Registo de cidadão da UE) or an EU citizen's certificate of permanent residence.

Voting is voluntary, so there is no penalty of any kind for not doing so.

However, voting simultaneously in the European elections in both Portugal and another EU country is punishable by a prison sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to 50 days.

EU citizens can stand for election if they have not forfeited this right in their home country.

To stand for election, EU citizens must

submit a formal application using the forms legally required

submit a formal statement including their nationality, date and place of birth, their place of residence in Portugal and their last residence in their home country

make a formal statement to the effect that they are not standing for election at the same time in another EU country

submit proof of their registration in the electoral records of the local authority or constituency in their EU country of origin where they were last registered, if applicable

make a formal statement that they have not forfeited the right to stand for election in their EU country of origin

Standing for election to the European Parliament in both Portugal and another EU country at the same time is punishable by

a prison sentence of up to 2 years and a fine of up to 100 days.

As a further punishment, it may be decided that the offender cannot stand for election in the next European elections.

The Voter's Portal (Portal do Eleitor) contains further information about the elections in Portugal.